US probes new keratitis cases

Investigators probing the outbreak of fungal keratitis among contact wearers in Asia are now looking into similar cases reported in the US.

It was last month when sales of Bausch & Lomb's ReNu multipurpose solution were halted in Hong Kong and Singapore following an abnormally high number of reported cases of fungal keratitis.

The global eye care giant said it was aware of reports in other countries, including Malaysia and the US, the former telling B&L to 'ascertain the safety' of its ReNu product.

However, this week B&L commented that initial evidence from Singapore suggested the cause of infection was not related to a specific lens care product.

'According to the Singapore health authorities, most of the contact lens-related fungal keratitis infections in that country involved patients with histories of poor contact lens care practices,' said a B&L spokeswoman. She added that the company was implementing consumer education programmes to raise awareness of the importance of good hygiene and lens care.

'As the normal incidence rate of these infections in many markets is not well-understood, the company is working with health authorities to improve reporting of cases, and has contacted corneal specialists and treatment centres throughout the world to assess whether there are unusual trends in any other regions.'

Laboratories in Singapore, Hong Kong and the US are culturing clinical isolates of fusarium from patient samples to identify the genetic make-up of the organisms, and to determine whether they are different from the strain used in industry-wide standard biocidal efficacy testing. In addition, the clinical isolates will be used to conduct biocidal efficacy testing with all the leading brands of lens care products.